Attachment for aeroplanes.



O. L. PIUKARD.

ATTACHMENT FOR AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED 3150.1, 1910.

1,017,998. Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 avwe wtoz 0/2902: Z Pi'C/cdrd O. L. PICKARD.

ATTACHMENT FOR AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.1, 1910.

1,017,998. Patented Feb. 20; 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENT OFFICE.

. ORSON L. :rrcxaan, or COLU BUS, 1110.-

1.01.7,aesQ

armonmienr non AEROPLANES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Application-filed December 1, 1910. Serial No. 595,658.

To all whom it may camera:

Be it known that I, Orson L. P1or;ano, a citizen of the United States, residing at-Columhus,in the countyof Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new .and useful Improvements in Attachments for Aeroplanes, of which the following is a'specification' p This invention relates to attachments for aeroplanes and is designed to construct a safety device which, should any accident disable the motors or engines of an =aeroplane,-t-hereby causing the same to take a sudden fall, said fall may be arrested and all danger to the occupants-and to the'plane be eliminated.

It also contemplates the Construction of asafety device which will-readily operate, not being dependent upon the angle at which the. aeroplane is traveling or upon the angle at which the same falls.

The operation-of the safety device form ing'the subject matter of the present invention,..is absolutely certain whether "the-aeroplane falls on end,-tilts forwardly or rearwardly.

The present invention comprises a parachute carried by the upper plane of a b1- lane 01' by the single plane of a monoplane,

arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within seope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1' isa top plan view of a biplane illustrating the present invention attached thereto, but

in its inoperative position, Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a biplane illustrating the present invention in its operative position, Fig.

' 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

illustrating the parachute releasing mechanism, and, Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 44-4 of Fig. 2. 7 l

The safety attachment for biplanes-form-- ing the subject matter of the present invention, comprises a parachute attached to the upper planes of a biplane or the single plane of a monoplan'e, in .such a manner that said parachute rests-flush with and parallel to the plane to which it is attached. The forward edge and ends of the parachute are retained in contact with the forward edge and ends ofthe plane to which it is attached by strips of canvas under which the edges of the parachute above referred-to are placed, thereby preventing the wind caused by the ordinary movement of the aeroplane to work in under the parachute and raise the same. 'A series ofropes or cords are secured along the rear edge and ends of the plane to which the parachute is attached and extend over the body of the parachute to a central point in the forward edge of the plane, thereby retaining the body of, the

parachute in constant engagement with the lane. These ropes are secured as will hereinafter be more fully described and cooperate with the mechanism which sever the same and permit the wind to blow the parachute from engagement with the plane.

Themeansfor releasing or severing saidropes, operates a mechanism whereby the strip .of canvas retaining the forward edge of the parachute in conta'ctwith the plane is'released and at the same time forces the forward edge of the parachute outwardly in order that the wind or air may circulate under said parachute andcause the same to rise and perform the function for which it is designed.

Reference being had more particularly to the drawings, A indicates an aeroplane of the biplane type, being formed of the upper plane 10 and the lower plane 10. Theup- .per plane 10 is provided along its forward edge with a strip of canvas 11 through which projects the eyes 12. The parachute canvas 13 is secured to the upper plane 10 by the supporting ropes 14 which when the parachute is resting flush with the plane, are .coiled under the same. The edges of the parachute are provided with the openings 15, the openings in the forward edge of which being arranged so as to receive the eyes 12, the forward edge of the parachute being retained between the strip of canvas 11 and the plane. A central opening 16 is prbvided in the forward edge of the parachute through which projects the terminals of the retaining ropes and the releasing mechanisms, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The strips of canvas 11 located at the ends of the upper plane are adapted to secure the ends of the parachute to said planes and prevent the air or wind I from entering between the planes of the parachute and forcing the latter upwardly.

A series of retaining ropes or cords 17 are the' parachute, the strip 11 .located along the forward edge of the plane and the forward edge of the plane extending down- 15 wardly adj acent to the side of the operator.

In order to provide a means of securing theseropes which bear over the upper surface of the body of the parachute and retain the same in an inoperative position, securely adjacent to the cperator,,but at the same time providefor their ready release, a bar 418 is interposed between the. upper and lower planes 10 and 10 respectively and is provided with the plates 19 and '19 ,on each side-thereof. The plate 19 covers a depres-I sion 20 formed in the bar in which a bell-- crank 21 is pivoted, said bell crank being provided with a knife portien 21 which operates flush against the'surface of the' plate 19. The cords 17 pierce the plates 19 and 19"-success1vely and are knotted against the-opter. surface of the plate 19. From this construction it will be understood that upon moving the knife 21 upwardly, the

cords 'will'be sheared or cut, thereby permit ting the same to fall free and the parachute 13 to rise. p

A rope 22 extends longitudinally on each side 'ofthe opening 16 and carries at its go terminal the split pins 23 which'enter the eyes 12 located at each terminal 0f the forward edge of -the plane. The ropes 23 carry the branches 24 whicli likewise carry the Qsplitpinsf23 which enter the eyes 12 intermediateof the length of the plane. These split pins retain the canvas strip 11 located along the forward edge of the plane 10 against-theparachute and readily lock the same in'a position to prevent displacement {SO-thereof bythe air currents. The terminals of the ropes 22 pass through the opening 16 and are secured to the innerterminal o'fthe bell crank 21 which also carries the operatreadily be understood'mhal. when a pull is -.exerted on the rod 25, the -ln'1i--fe- 21 will travel upwardly shearing or cuttin the cords 17, thereby permitting the same to fall loose. This movement alsoexerts a pull. on thecords 22 which removes the splitpins 23 and 23 from the-eyes'12. It will thus be seen that by 'releasing the cords17 and v thepins 23 and 23' from; the eyes 12, the

edges of the parachute areentirely free. 155 from the plane. is therefore enly neces-- 1mg rod 25. From this construction, 1t will sary +0 place the parachute in a'position in Whlch the air'may readily circulate thereunder and raise the same. This is done by a rod 26 secured to the terminal of the knife 21 and which projects through an opening 6 in the plane. Therefore upon-the upward movement of the knife 21' the 'rod 26 likewise moves upwardly'and. forces the forjward edge of the. parachute above the canvas strip 11, thereby permitting-the air to circulate under said parachute and completely release the same.

It will clearly be understood that it not necessary to retain the parachute in a rectangular form, but that the same may be of any suitable shape or size. It is also un- I derstood that no limited number of split pins 23 and 23 or eyes 12 are necessary. 1

What I claim, is-- -1.- In combination with an aeroplane, an 5 auxiliary sheet of wind-proof material nora mally spread upon one of the planes, means for instantaneously releasing said sheet from its spread condition, and means for simultaneously lifting one portion of said sheet to admit the air therebeneath; 2.-In combination with .an aeroplane, an auxiliary sheet of wind-proof material normally spreadupon one of theplanes, strips preventing the entrance of air between said 9: sheet and the plane, and means for instantaneously moving said sheet to a position to admit air thereunder. i

3. In comb'nation with an aeroplane, an

auxiliary sheet of wind-proof materialnor- 1 mally spread upon one of the planes, means for maintaining saidsheet intaut condition, means for excluding air' from between said sheet and one of the 'planes,'and means for simultaneously rendering said .last two 1' means ineffective.

4:. In combination with an aeroplane, an auxiliary sheet of wind-proof material normally spread upon one "of the planes, ropes for fastening said sheet in position, strlps 1 for excluding air from beneath said sheet, a knife for cutting said ropes, and a pin operable simultaneously wlth said knife for pushing said sheet above said. strips.

5. The combination with an aeroplane, of 1 a parachute carried thereby, means for holding said-parachute against the surface of said plane, and means for simultaneously releasingsaid last named means and moving said parachute to a position .toreceive the 1 air. I

- 'The combination with an aeroplane, of a parachutenormally spread and secured thereto, strips retaining the edges of said parachute, and means whereby said para 1 'hute maybe released from said strips. 7. The combination with an aeroplane, of

'a parachute. secured thereto, strips adapted :to secure the ed es of said parachute,mean's whereby the y of said parach to maybe retained against the aeroplane, and means means whereby said strips and flexible mem- Whereby said retaining means may be rebers maybe released. 10 leased. In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature 8. The combination with an aeroplane, of in presence of two witnesses. a parachute-secured thereto, strips adapted ORSON L. PICK-ARD, to secure the edges of said parachute, fiexi- Witnesses: ble members adapted to retain the body of C. C. SHEPHERD,

said parachute against the aeroplane, and JOSEPH P. EAGLESON. 

